It was the last committee stop for the bill, which passed the Senate and now will be up for an Assembly floor vote.

 

SB792, by Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, would require vaccination for whooping cough, measles and influenza for all day care workers.

 

The only exemption for a whooping cough or measles immunization would be a physician’s note that exempts individuals for whom the vaccination would not be safe.

 

Day care workers who do not want to get the influenza vaccine, though, just need to fill out a form to become exempt from the requirement.

 

The bill also reiterated the need for evidence of being free of tuberculosis — known as “clearance” —  among day care workers, which already is required by law.

No crowds of protesters for this legislation

But unlike with legislation mandating that students get vaccinations before being allowed in school — a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown that ended nearly all exemptions and was criticized by, among others, the Washington Post editorial board — this bill is generating little controversy and enjoys bipartisan support. It was lobbied for by the Health Officers Association of California, the Child Care Law Center, the March of Dimes California chapter, and other groups that promote children’s interests, and faced criticism only from those who consider vaccinations dangerous.

Republicans who objected to the school vaccination bill as an attack on parental rights have accepted Mendoza’s argument that this is a common-sense measure to protect children and a reasonable job requirement for someone who works with young kids.

The measure passed the Senate on a 34-3 vote in May.

Before passing the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 16-1 vote Wednesday, it won approval on a 6-1 vote in the Assembly Human Services Committee and on a 16-1 vote in the Assembly Health Committee.

If the bill is adopted by the full Assembly and signed by the governor, it will take effect Sept. 1, 2016.

Senate Bill 792 is authored by Senator Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, and according to the text of the bill, “would prohibit a day care center or a family day care home from employing any person who has not been immunized in accordance with the schedule for routine adult immunizations.” Currently, licensed child care workers do not have any immunization requirements, but must have a TB clearance and a health report.

A press release issued by Senator Mendoza’s office noted that the Centers for Disease control declared measles was eliminated in 2000:

However, from December 28, 2014 to February 20, 2015, there have been 117 confirmed cases of measles in California according to the CDC. The outbreak likely originated from a traveler who became infected overseas with measles and visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California while contagious. Since that time, additional cases emerged, including a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passenger with measles who travelled from Millbrae to San Francisco, potentially exposing more than 1500 riders.

“One child’s death is one too many, especially when it may be preventable. With the recent deadly outbreaks of measles and influenza, we must do everything in our power to protect California’s children who spend time in day care,” said Senator Mendoza in the release. “SB 792 will require all day care center and day care home personnel to be vaccinated. This is not just a common sense solution, but makes scientific sense.”

The bill now goes to the State Assembly for consideration.